NHS Southern Derbyshire Clinical Commissioning Group launched a 90 day consultation on 11 July following the discovery of asbestos at Heanor Memorial Hospital in September 2013. However, the CCG needs to look at the role of other health services as part of its wider responsibility for the health of all residents in the area. These include services based at Wilmot Street Health Centre, those provided in the wider community and those provided in people’s homes.

At the public meeting on 29 May the CCG confirmed that NHS funding is in place to build a new £2.5m health building which will provide services that meet the health requirements of the population.

Andy Layzell, Chief Officer at NHS Southern Derbyshire CCG, said:

“We would like to thank everyone who has taken the time to give us their views on health services in Heanor during the public consultation.

“Since our first meeting in January, where we opened discussions with local people about how to tackle the problems with the Memorial Hospital building, more than 1000 people in the town have been to meetings and seen us out and about and helped us decide on the options.

“We consulted on seven options, one of which we clearly identified was our preferred option and this was to demolish the existing Memorial Hospital, close the Wilmot Street Health Centre and rebuild a brand new facility on the current Hospital site which would include including existing services with the exception of inpatient beds along with a range of new services which we know are required to support the health of local people.

“We have looked at all the views given to us during the consultation period and I’m pleased to report that our proposal has received the backing of local people.

“Our Governing Body will now review the outcome of the consultation and come to a final decision at the public meeting on 24 October.”

Led by local GPs and other health professionals, NHS Southern Derbyshire CCG is responsible for the planning and purchasing of health services in Derby, Amber Valley, Derbyshire Dales and South Derbyshire. These services include planned and emergency hospital care, rehabilitation, most community services and mental health and learning disability services.